Ground anchoring devices



n 1964 A. M. HAYHURST 3,135,365

GROUND ANCHORING DEVICES Filed Dec. 19, 1960 Sheets-Sheet 1 J1me 1964 A. M. HAYHURST GROUND ANCHORING DEVICES 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Dec. 19, 1960 United States Patent 3,135,365 GRDUND ANCHGRING DEVICES Audrey Mary Hayhurst, 9 Arney Road, Remnera, Auckland, New Zealand Filed Dec. 19, 1960, Ser. No. 76,669 8 Claims. ((11. 189-92) The invention relates to a ground anchoring device and in particular relates to such devices used for anchoring or staying tents, posts, aircraft or other objects.

The object of the invention is' to provide an improved ground anchoring device which includes both a ground anchor and means for embedding the ground anchor in the ground, the improved device being of simple construction and arrangement and easily operated, enabling a ground anchor to be firmly embedded in the ground with a minimum of effort in readiness for use as an anchor.

According to one aspect of the invention the improved ground anchoring device comprises a ground anchor initially in the form of a length of pre-split tubing, and anchor embedding means for inserting the pre-split length of tubing into the ground and spreading or splaying split sections of the tubing in the ground to form a ground anchor provided with anchoring flukes. According to a second aspect of the invention the improved ground anchoring device comprises a ground anchor in the form of a length oftubing partially split lengthwise into a number of divided sections, and anchor embedding means for inserting the pre-split length of tubing into the ground, comprises a length of piping to one end of which the length of tubing is temporarily attached, the combined pre-split length of tubing and length of piping being adapted to be thrust into the ground, and means for drawing the length of tubing upwardly over the end of the piping to spread or splay the divided sections of the tubing in the ground to form a ground anchor with anchoring fiukes.

The invention will now be described in the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a view in elevation of the improved ground anchoring device, illustrating the combined anchor embedding means and ground anchor prior to the ground anchor being spread.

FIG. 2 is a view in cross section of FIG. 1 but with the ground anchor removed.

FIG. 3 is a plan view of FIG. 1. FIG. 4 is a detail view of FIG. 2 but on a larger scale. 9 FIG. 5 is an inverted plan view of the anchor embedding means on a larger scale.

FIG. 6 is a detail view (broken) in elevation illustrating the temporary attachment of the ground anchor to the anchor embedding means on a larger scale.

1 FIG. 7 is a full view in elevation of the ground anchor and anchor embedding means (broken).

FIG. 8 is a similar view to FIG. 7 but showing the ground anchor being spread outwardly by the anchor embedding means.

FIG. 9 illustrates the ground anchor finally embedded and connected to an eye bolt.

FIG. 10 is a plan view of the ground anchor.

FIG. 11 is a view in section of FIG. 7.

Referring now to the drawings the anchor embedding means consists of a length of hollow piping 1 about one end 1a of which is attached a flange or plate 2 provided with lugs 2a on the undersurface thereof. At the opposing end 1b of the piping 1 a deflector head generally indicated as at 3, is provided, which serves to spread or splay the pre-split length of tubing to form the ground anchor as will later be described. More specifically the deflector head 3 is formed by a number of equally spaced projections (referred to hereinafter as divider projections "ice 4), which extend from the end 1b of the piping 1 and are equally spaced about the entrance to the bore 5 of the piping 1. As illustrated more specifically in FIG. 6 the divider projections 4 which are preferably three in number, are flat sided and are shaped with bevelled outer ends 4a while furthermore the end 1b of the piping 1 is rounded inwardly to the entrance to the bore 5 (see FIG. 6).

In one form of the invention and as illustrated in the drawings the piping 1 includes a connecting rod 6 which is inserted through the bore 5 of the piping 1 in loose engagement to extend beyond both ends of the piping 1 (see FIG. 2). Both ends of the connecting rod 6 are screw threaded as at 6a and 6b and the screw threading at the end of rod 6 adjacent the plate 2 is passed in screw threaded engagement through the boss 7 of a handle 8 positioned to the outer side of the plate 2. More particularly the handle 8 is a winding type and with the boss 7 bearing on the plate 2 as shown, rotation of the handle 8 will raise or lower the connecting rod 6 in the piping 1 as will later be described.

A turning bar" 60 is provided inserted through the end 611 of the connecting rod 6. r

The ground anchor is initially in the form of a length of tubing 9 of approximately the same diameter as the piping 1. The tubing 9 is pro-split lengthwise from one end to within a short distance of its opposing end 911, into a plurality of divided or split sections 10(in this instance three sections 10) which when the ground anchor is finally formed and embedded as will later be described, form the curved flukes 10 of the ground anchor. More particularly the splits correspond in position to the divider projections 4 of the deflector head 3, while the bore of the unsplit end 9a of the tubing 9 is screwthreaded (see FIG. 11) into which the screwthreading 6b at the end of connecting rod 6 engages, when the apparatus is assembled for ground embedding purposes.

The pie-split length of tubing 9 forming the ground anchor is also provided with a collar 12 (see FIGS. 6, 7, and 8) fitted in reasonably tight but slidable engagement about the exterior of the tubing 9, the collar 12 acting in conjunction with the deflector head 3 to spread or splay the divided sections of the tubing 9 to form the fiukes 10 as will be described. To assemble the apparatus in readiness to insert the ground anchor into the ground, the split end of the tubing 9 is engaged on the deflector head 3 at the end 1b of the piping 1 by engaging the splits of the tubing 9 on to 'the correspondingly positioned divider projections 4 so that the ends of the flukes 10, which as illustrated, are rounded, bear both'the 'sides of the divider projections 4 and the rounded end of the piping 1. The collar 12 is then slid to a position to butt against the free ends of the divider projections 4. The connecting rod 6 is next inserted through the open end 1a of the piping 1 above the plate 2 and the screwthreading 6b engaged in the screwthreading in the bore 9a of the tubing 9 by turning the bar 60 (see'FIG. 11).

The assembled apparatus is then positioned vertically with the. attached pro-split tubing 9 lowermost, and either inserted into a pre-made hole in the ground, or driven into the ground in such a position until the underside of the plate 2 contacts ground level 20 (see FIG. 1) and the lugs 2a on the underside of the plate 2 dig into ground level 20 (see FIG. 1). The winding handle 8, with the boss 7 thereof bearing on the plate 2 is then rotated in the appropriate direction to raise the connecting rod 6 upwardly in the bore of the piping 1 and in turn commence to raise the pre-split tubing 9. Upon such an action taking place, the flukes 10' of the upwardly moving tubing 9, are forced to curve outwardly by the rounded deflecting surface at the lower end 1b of the piping 1, acting in 3 conjunction with the collar 12 (see FIG. 8). As the tubing 9 is raised as described, the collar 12 is forced downwardly on the exterior surface of the tubing 9 until the flukes are fully extended (see FIG. 9) to form the ground anchor;

The connecting rod 6 is then unscrewed from the now formed ground anchor by means of the turning bar 6c and the connecting rod 6, and piping I removed. The shank of an eye bolt 13 or the like is then inserted down into the hole so formed in the ground and threaded into the screwthreading of the bore 9a of the ground anchor to form the actual attaching means of the ground anchor.

In an alternative form of the invention as shown in FIG. 11, the pre-split tubing 9 is formed with a length of moved, the wire 14 remains extending above the ground level as a means of attachment.

As illustrated in FIG. 1 a pair of upwardly extending lugs 16 are provided on the upper surface of the plate 2, the lugs 16 being formed with apertures therethrough through which bars 18 or the like can be engaged to aid in pulling the device from the ground.

It will be understood from the aforegoing description that the invention is by no means confined to a lifting arrangement in the form of a winding handle 8, screwthreaded on to the connecting rod 6 as has been described, as it will be obvious that other lifting means would be suitable. For instance, the connecting rod 6 could well be levered upwardly.

If desired the connecting rod 6 itself may remain connected to the formed ground anchor in the place of the eye bolt 13, to serve as the shank of the anchor. Again the wire 14 can serve in the place of the connecting rod 6 to draw the pre-split tube 9 upwardly, the wire 14 remaining attached to the formed anchor and to which a stay is attached.

What I do claim and desire to obtain by Letters Patent of the United States of America is:

1. An improved ground anchoring device comprising in combination a length of tubing having upper and lower ends and being partially split lengthwise at its upperv end into a number of divided circumferentially disposed sections, anchor embedding means for inserting the length of tubing into the ground comprising a length of piping including means to removably attach the upper end of the length of tubing thereto with said upper end of the tubing overlapping the piping, the combined pre-split length of tubing and length of piping being adapted to be thrust into the ground, and said means removably attaching said tubing to said piping operative to efiect relr ative movement between the tubing and the piping for drawing the length of tubing upwardly over the end of the piping to splay the divided sections of tubing in the ground to form a ground anchor with anchoring flukes.

2. .A ground anchoring device as claimed in claim 1 andwherein the end of the piping over which the length of tubing is drawn, is shaped with a deflector head adapted to splay the split sections of the tubing outwardly, and a collar slidably fitted about the tubing and bearing on the deflector head,

. and wherein the end of the piping opposed to the end on which the deflector head is formed, is provided with a generally circular plate disposed about the entrance to the bore of the piping.

5. A ground anchoring device as claimed in claim 4 and wherein lugs extend from the undersurface of the plate, the lugs being adapted to dig into the surface of the ground when the piping is thrust into the ground.

6. A ground anchoring device as claimed in claim 1 and wherein the means'removably attaching said tubing to said piping and operative to effect relative movement between the tubing and piping for drawing the length of pre-split tubing upwardly over the end of the piping comprises a connecting rod inserted in loose slidable engagement through the bore of the piping, said tubing having portions defining a threaded bore therein, one end of the said connecting rod being threaded and adapted to be connected to the length of tubing and raised in the piping to spread or splay the split sections of the tubing into the ground anchoring flukes.

7. A ground anchoring device as claimed in claim 6 and wherein the connecting rod is provided with threads at the endportion thereof opposite the end connected to said tubing, a winding handle having a threaded bore therein and adapted to be screwthreaded on to the connecting rod, portions of said handle adjacent the threaded bore therein adapted to engage on a plate about the upper end of the bore of the piping, winding of said handle elfecting relative movement between said connecting rod and said piping to cause the split sections thereof to spread.

8. A ground anchoring device comprising a length of tubing having upper and lower ends and circumferentially spaced longitudinal slits therein at the upper end defining a plurality of sections, anchor imbedding means for inserting the length of tubing into the ground comprising a length of piping, a connecting rod extending through said'piping and having one end connected to said tubing to removably attach the same to said piping with the upper end of the tubing in overlapping relation to the piping, the end of said piping to which said tubing is attached defining a deflector head, means mounted on the free end of said connecting rod and operative to efiect relative movement between said connecting rod and the tubing connected thereto and said piping, whereby the plurality of sections of said tubing engage said deflector head and spread to anchor the device in the ground.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Wendt Nov. 4, 1958 

1. AN IMPROVED GROUND ANCHORING DEVICE COMPRISING IN COMBINATION A LENGTH OF TUBING HAVING UPPER AND LOWER ENDS AND BEING PARTIALLY SPLIT LENGTHWISE AT ITS UPPER END INTO A NUMBER OF DIVIDED CIRCUMFERENTIALLY DISPOSED SECTIONS, ANCHOR EMBEDDING MEANS FOR INSERTING THE LENGTH OF TUBING INTO THE GROUND COMPRISING A LENGTH OF PIPING INCLUDING MEANS TO REMOVABLY ATTACH THE UPPER END OF THE LENGTH OF TUBING THERETO WITH SAID UPPER END OF THE TUBING OVERLAPPING THE PIPING, THE COMBINED PRE-SPLIT LENGTH OF TUBING AND LENGTH OF PIPING BEING ADAPTED TO BE THRUST INTO THE GROUND, AND SAID MEANS REMOVABLY ATTACHING SAID TUBING TO SAID PIPING OPERATIVE TO EFFECT RELATIVE MOVEMENT BETWEEN THE TUBING AND THE PIPING FOR DRAWING THE LENGTH OF TUBING UPWARDLY OVER THE END OF THE PIPING TO SPLAY THE DIVIDED SECTIONS OF TUBING IN THE GROUND TO FORM A GROUND ANCHOR WITH ANCHORING FLUKES. 